QR codes...

One of my friendly ed-tech gurus taught me about something today: QR Codes and barcode scanner apps that exist on Android cell phones.

My buddy John Neff, Staff Development Specialist over at the Center for Teaching & Learning at Moraine Valley Community College (my former workplace), was kind enough to demonstrate how QR codes work when I visited the college today. I was amazed to see the kinds of data that could be stored in a QR code and how the barcode scanner on his Android phone easily handled these codes.

Here is one you can scan to capture my contact information:


I created this one using a web-based QR code generator at http://qrcode.kaywa.com/. Now, if you scan this code, you can save my contact information right into your cell phone. Pretty neat, eh? Want more ideas? Do a quick Google search with the keywords "using qr codes" and you'll get a nice long list of websites with ideas on how you can use these nifty little codes for marketing your business and sharing information.

Thanks, John, for sharing this cool tech tidbit. You learn something new everyday!

So much change...

...in such a short time! That's why I have neglected this blog so much...

Since the last time I've posted, so much has changed. I sent my first-born off to college at Northern IL University. I left my position as Director, Nontraditional Learning at Moraine Valley Community College and took a position as Senior Lecturer at The Ohio State University, so I moved to Columbus, Ohio. I no longer own a car (it died two weeks before I left Illinois and I decided to try to live without one for a while instead of saddling myself with a car payment.) As a result of all the walking and bus-hopping, I lost over 25 pounds (I'm still amazed!). I am doing a temporary "single parent" gig (yes, I brought our younger son with me and my hubby is still in Illinois). I prepped for and taught three courses (nearly 70 students)--I've just finished my first quarter at The Ohio State University. Now all of this is pretty cool, but one of the most neat things is this:

I have learned to LOVE living a much more simpler life.

I don't have TV or video games in our home. I cut my monthly bills waaaay down. We walk everywhere so I never think about where to park on campus. I am doing my part to reduce harmful emissions in the environment. We shop only when I need something. It's crazy--I don't miss all the hoopla of my former life. I have time to study and think and write. I LOVE IT!!! I'm still a technophile, but I'm living without very much technology and it's OK. I use the Internet on my laptop and I have a phone that does only phone calls and text messaging--none of the newer fancy stuff. I'm learning about myself through this experience and it's wonderful. Columbus is a great city. My younger son is happy and healthy. I can't wait to see what else is on the horizon.

I'm am working on some articles and grant proposals in between prepping for next quarter classes, so I'll have lots to write about in the very near future. Right now, I'm planning to internationalize my adolescent development course--I am partnering with a professor at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez to have my class collaborate with hers. We are starting slowly with just a project and a couple synchronous meetings. I am very excited! I will be posting more about this project very soon. Stay tuned!

DTLC 2010 - Madison, WI

Just returned yesterday from the 26th Annual Distance Teaching & Learning Conference hosted in Madison, Wisconsin at the lovely Monona Terrace Conference and Convention center. As always, it was a great conference. I met a lot of interesting people, had some great dialogue, and enjoyed learning about what other institutions are doing with distance learning. I also presented a demonstration on behalf of a Moraine colleague and held a roundtable discussion. Overall, it was a great time.

I enjoyed the conference, but I am looking forward to being able to focus more on research and theory. Though I have relied on the research literature to inform my work and practice over the past 2+ years, I feel like I've been away from it in terms of being able to think carefully about theories and ideas and formulate new ideas. I miss that type of intellectual work and I am thrilled to be able to get back to it (and to the classroom) when I start my teaching position at The Ohio State University this fall!

This was my last conference as a member of the Moraine Valley family, so it was very meaningful to have a great colleague, Martha Mazeika, along with me during the conference. Though I was quite tired from all my job-change preparations over the last few months, her energy and enthusiasm were infectious and she made a terrific conference buddy. I plan to return to this conference next year and I'm hoping to reunite with my Moraine colleagues at that time. To learn more about the conference, please visit the conference research library at: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/ - you can search for presentation materials and other resources. Enjoy!

I like this...

I love Twitter--for one reason: It connects me to a lot of very neat-thinking people. For example, I like this blog entry (which I found by visiting fellow Tweeter, @krea_frobro747): http://thinkingwithahead.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/technology-listening/

Here is a little piece of it to wet your whistle...

Six Negative Listening Habits:

1. Rebuttal Maker – Listening long enough to formulate a rebuttal
2. Advice Giver – Jumping too quickly to give unsolicited advice
3. Interrupter – More anxious to speak his words than to listen
4. Logical Listener – Rarely asking about feelings/emotions
5. Happy Hooker – Using speaker’s words to shift to own message
6. Faker – Pretends to listen

Cool, huh? I wonder how many of us are not good listeners in our classrooms? I also wonder how well we address these types of behaviors when we see them in our students during class? Do we even know how to address them? Hmmmm.. Check out the blog!
Tracey

Learning College Summit, Phoenix, AZ ~ 6/7 - 6/9/2010

A few days ago, I attended the 2010 Learning College Summit hosted by the League for Innovation in the Community College at the lovely Arizona Biltmore Hotel. It was a great conference--primarily because I was able to spend time with my team from Moraine Valley. It feels great to be part of such as great group of professionals. My three teammates presented on Monday morning and another MV colleague and I presented on Tuesday afternoon.

Engaging Adjuncts as a Strategy for Student Engagement

View more presentations from Tracey Stuckey-Mickell.

In highly collaborative organization, such as Moraine Valley, it is important for teammates to be able to have time sit down and experience the synergy of group discussion during conferences and other types of professional gatherings. The conversations we had were the best part of the conference--it is great to be abel to sit down, discuss thoughts and ideas, and bond with your teammates. When I move to my new position at Ohio State, I am going to miss these times with my team most of all.

A Great Ending...

...to a wonderful journey!!

A few hours before the NIU Graduate Commencement on May 7, Mark McGowan of the NIU faculty/staff newsletter, Northern Today, interviewed my mom and me about the completion of our doctoral degrees. It was a great day and I feel very fortunate to have shared such a great experience with my mother.

I'm looking forward to really great things from her and I anxiously await the next journey!

To read the article: http://www.niu.edu/northerntoday/2010/may17/stuckeys.shtml

African American Latino/a American Adult Education Research Symposium - 4/24/2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010 was a really great day! My hubby presented a poster at the African American Latino/a American Adult Education Research Symposium at Northern IL University. It was a great conference. I was able to reconnect with some old friends, enjoy some enlightening and thought-provoking presentations, and support my husband. My mom and I had a great time and the presentations were terrific.


NIU Black Graduate Student Association & Conference Planning Committee


My Husband & Friend, Jarvis

The End of a Journey...Congrats, Dr. Angeline Stuckey!

On Monday, April 19, my mom successfully defended her dissertation. It was my great pleasure to support her through the event and celebrate with her afterward. She is now Dr. Angeline Stuckey! It has been a great journey over the past several years as we supported each other through the research and writing process. We took "writing weekends" together, shared resources, advised each other, laughed together and lamented together. It takes a village to raise a scholar and we have shared a dynamic network of professors, family, friends and colleagues.

How blessed I am to have such a wonderful friend and colleague in my mom. She is, and has always been, truly an inspiration to me! Congrats, Dr. Stuckey! It's time to write an article together...I have lots of ideas that are just waiting to be harvested!

2010 Conferences

I am planning to attend quite a few professional conferences this year--and I may be presenting at some of these. Here's where I'm going so far...

AERA - Denver, CO
*Learning College Summit - Phoenix, AZ
*Distance Teaching & Learning - Madison, WI
IAECT - Malta, IL
MWERA - Columbus, OH
*AECT - Anaheim, CA

I'm looking forward to a spectacular year!!

*My presentation has been accepted!

Mission Complete: Dissertation Defended!!

It's been quite a few months since I've posted. I have been writing like crazy to finished my dissertation in time for May graduation. Mission complete!! I successfully defended on March 31, 2010. A host of family, friends, and colleagues attended my defense and waited around in the hallway to hear the news from my chair. And when she emerged with the word "Congratulations!!" the crowd erupted in cheers, provoking people to come from their offices on the second floor of Gabel Hall and walk out into the halls to find the source of all the ruckus.

Overall, it was a terrific and exhilarating day! I felt so much positivity and love flowing from my committee and everyone that came out to support me. I hugged so many people over the past couple of days. I am truly blessed! I feel incredibly encouraged as I start out on this new journey and I am so grateful to have such a supportive network of family, mentors, colleagues, and friends. It truly takes a village and I would not have made it thus far without the wonderful people who have encouraged me, guided me, listened to me fuss, and pushed me to keep going!

Whoo-hoo! I'm done!! :)